|
Home | About Us | This Week | News | Ministries | Gallery | Devotional | Resources | Opportunities | Contacts |
|
Devotional for the Week – 8 December 2008 Sermon Title: Trademark of the Persecuted Church (Particularly in China) Mission Impossible? In the 1900’s, the gospel was not openly preached in China. There were many attempts by missionaries to spread the gospel. One of the boldest attempts was the smuggling of one million bibles into the country. It took twenty-one ordinary Christian crewmembers and one faithful God to succeed in this mission. At that time, the spreading of the gospel was illegal and they could not build churches. They, therefore, resorted to having secret house meetings. Nevertheless, in the course of their mission, many missionaries and church leaders lost their lives and faced persecution. God Opens Doors Today, China is very different from days of old. The people are more educated, there is great progress in the country’s economic development and they have opened doors to other countries for trade and industry. As a result, we see an influx of students who had gone abroad for studies, bring the gospel into the country when they returned. We see foreign students, who study in China, bring the gospel to their respective campuses. We see businessmen and tentmakers go into China and spread the gospel. We should now see China in its new image. We should see China as a giving country. Mission work is a movement of God; hence, whether we are rich or poor, we need to bring the gospel to various parts of the earth. The Chinese, being widely spread, would be able to bring the gospel to the ends of the earth. God can use them in the different countries they settle in. Taking Up The Cross Jesus’ disciples were afraid of the Jews as they feared persecution. Jesus came, stood among them and blessed their troubled hearts with His peace. He showed them His hands and sides and they were glad. The marks on His hands and sides were Jesus’ trademarks of the suffering He bore when He laid down His life for us. What kind of trademark should we possess as a church for Christ? Just as the Lord sent His disciples, we must be willing to be sent out to spread the gospel and to take up the cross daily to glorify Jesus Christ. Prayer Response Dear Jesus, thank You for taking all my sins upon Yourself and suffering on the cross for me. The wounds on Your hands, feet and sides remind me of Your love for me. Give me the strength to take up my cross daily and glorify Your Name. Amen Devotional based on a sermon by Rev Johnny Li
|